Qatar Showcases Thriving Startup Ecosystem at Web Summit Vancouver 2025

Qatar's dynamic startup ecosystem took center stage at the first Web Summit Vancouver, held from May 27 to 30, 2025. Spearheaded by Invest Qatar, the country's Investment Promotion Agency, the "Startup Qatar" pavilion attracted significant attention from global attendees and industry leaders.

Highlighting Qatar's Entrepreneurial Landscape

The "Startup Qatar" pavilion was a collaborative effort involving key national entities, including the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), Qatar Development Bank (QDB), Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), and the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI). This initiative showcased the exclusive advantages and extensive opportunities available to startups and entrepreneurs aiming to establish or expand their ventures in Qatar.

Throughout the four-day summit, the pavilion facilitated connections between attendees and key stakeholders in Qatar’s startup and entrepreneurial ecosystem. It emphasized the country’s thriving business environment, multi-sectoral opportunities, and tailored benefits designed to empower ambitious startups and support their long-term growth.

Strategic Insights and Global Partnerships

Senior representatives from the Qatari delegation actively engaged in panel discussions and networking sessions, highlighting the country’s progress in driving innovation and technological advancement. Hamad Al-Naimi, Strategy Manager at Invest Qatar, participated in a panel discussion titled “From Seed to Scale: Catalyzing Startup Growth in Emerging Tech Hubs” alongside António Dias Martins, CEO of Startup Portugal.

During the discussion, Al-Naimi shared valuable insights into the policies and initiatives Qatar is pursuing to strengthen its position as a dynamic hub for innovation and startups. He also highlighted Qatar’s recently launched $1 billion incentives programme, aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability and global competitiveness of startups and fintech companies. The programme focuses on key sectors, including technology, with targeted support for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data-driven innovation, to build a robust digital economy and attract high-impact investments.

Robust Support for Startups

The participation at Web Summit Vancouver builds on the significant interest and record success of the "Startup Qatar" initiative during previous international tech events. The initiative, launched ahead of the inaugural Web Summit Qatar, has recorded over 450 business registrations facilitated by QFC and received more than 4,000 applications for the “Startup Qatar Investment Programme” by QDB.

This programme offers funding of up to $500,000 for seed-stage and up to $5 million for growth-stage companies. To date, the programme has awarded $23.5 million in funding to 19 startups from across the world, including Italy, Oman, Singapore, the U.K., the U.S., and Turkey. These startups benefit from funding, mentorship, and other support services in Qatar’s innovation-driven ecosystem.

Comprehensive Resources via Startup Qatar Platform

The “Startup Qatar” initiative is designed to support startups at every stage of their journey. It provides an innovative one-stop online platform, catering to all business requirements and enabling them to access Qatar’s extensive network of support services, opportunities, funding, incubation programmes, government grants, networking events, and various other resources.

Qatar's active participation in Web Summit Vancouver 2025 underscores its commitment to nurturing a vibrant startup ecosystem and positioning itself as a leading destination for innovation and entrepreneurship on the global stage.